Lúcio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lúcio

Lúcio in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Lucimar Ferreira da Silva
Date of birth	(1978-05-08) 8 May 1978 (age 47)
Place of birth	Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
1995–1997	Planaltina EC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997	Guará	0	(0)
1997–2000	Internacional	45	(5)
2001–2004	Bayer Leverkusen	92	(15)
2003	Bayer Leverkusen II	1	(0)
2004–2009	Bayern Munich	144	(7)
2009–2012	Inter Milan	96	(3)
2012	Juventus	1	(0)
2013	São Paulo	10	(1)
2014–2015	Palmeiras	25	(2)
2015–2016	FC Goa	16	(0)
2018	Gama	0	(0)
2018–2020	Brasiliense	17	(1)
Total		447	(34)
International career
2000–2011	Brazil	105	(4)
Medal record Men's Football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Winner 2002 Korea/Japan FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2005 Germany Winner 2009 South Africa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lucimar Ferreira da Silva (born on May 8, 1978), known as Lúcio, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position. Lúcio was known for being tall and strong, especially good at heading the ball. Many people consider him one of the best defenders of his time. He was nicknamed O Cavalo ("The Horse") because of his long, powerful runs with the ball.

Lúcio started his professional career in 1998 with Internacional in Brazil. After three years, he moved to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany. There, he helped his team reach the 2002 UEFA Champions League final. He even scored a goal in that final, but his team lost 2–1 to Real Madrid.

In 2004, Lúcio joined Bayern Munich, another big German club. He won three German cups and three German league titles with them. In 2009, he moved to Inter Milan in Italy. With Inter, he achieved a special feat called the "treble" in 2010. This means winning the league, the national cup, and the Champions League all in one season. They beat his old club, Bayern Munich, in the Champions League final.

Lúcio also had a very successful career with the Brazilian national team. He won the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was the last player from the 2002 World Cup-winning team to still be playing professionally before he retired.

What Was Lúcio's Early Career Like?

Lúcio began playing football in his hometown of Planaltina as a forward, which is an attacking player. In 1997, he started playing as a defender. He was loaned to Guará for a match against Internacional. Even though his team lost badly, Lúcio impressed Internacional, and they decided to buy him.

How Did Lúcio Play for Internacional?

At Internacional, Lúcio became a key player as a centre-back. His best year was 2000. He was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time. He also won an award called the Bola de Prata, recognizing him as one of the best centre-backs in the Brazilian league that year.

Lúcio's Time at Bayer Leverkusen

In January 2001, Lúcio moved to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany. He quickly became their top defender. In 2002, Leverkusen had a great season but narrowly missed out on winning three major titles. They finished second in the German league, lost the German Cup final, and lost the 2002 UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid. Despite these losses, Lúcio's strong performances caught the eye of many big European clubs.

Lúcio at Bayern Munich

In 2004, Lúcio joined Bayern Munich and became a very important player for them. After the team captain retired in 2008, Lúcio became the vice-captain. He scored important goals for Bayern, including one against Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2007, which helped Bayern move forward in the competition. He also scored against his old club, Bayer Leverkusen, in a cup match.

Lúcio's Success at Inter Milan

On July 16, 2009, Lúcio moved to the Italian club Inter Milan. He quickly became a key part of their defense. He scored his first goal for Inter with a header from a corner kick. Lúcio and his defensive partner, Walter Samuel, were praised for their strong performances. On May 22, 2010, Lúcio played in the Champions League final where Inter beat his former club, Bayern Munich, 2–0. This win completed a historic "treble" for Inter, meaning they won three major trophies in one season. For his great play, Lúcio was chosen for the FIFA FIFPro World XI team in 2010. He played his 100th game for Inter in September 2011. He left Inter in June 2012.

Short Stay at Juventus

On July 4, 2012, Lúcio signed a two-year contract with Juventus, another top Italian club. He started as a regular player, even winning the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana with them. However, he faced injuries and did not play consistently. He soon lost his starting spot to other defenders. Because he wasn't playing much, Lúcio left Juventus in December 2012 after only six months.

Returning to Brazil: São Paulo and Palmeiras

On December 18, 2012, Lúcio returned to Brazil and signed with São Paulo. After 12 years in Europe, he needed to get used to playing in Brazil again. He scored his first goal for São Paulo in April 2013. However, he had a disagreement with the new coach and was removed from the team. This caused some problems for the club.

On January 1, 2014, Lúcio left São Paulo and joined their rivals, Palmeiras. He took on a leadership role in the team's defense. He agreed to a lower salary, with extra payments based on how well he played.

Playing in India: FC Goa

On June 7, 2015, Lúcio signed with FC Goa in the Indian Super League. He was their "marquee player," which means a famous player brought in to attract attention. He played 14 games in his first season, and FC Goa finished as runners-up. His second season in 2016 was less successful, and FC Goa finished at the bottom of the league.

Lúcio's Final Years in Football

On December 7, 2017, Lúcio returned to his home district in Brazil and signed for Gama, where he was the team captain. In April 2018, he joined another local rival club, Brasiliense. Lúcio officially announced his retirement from professional football on January 29, 2020.

Lúcio's International Career with Brazil

Lúcio and Brazilian President Lula in 2009

Lúcio played for the Brazilian Olympic team in the football tournament at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The 2002 World Cup Victory

Lúcio was a key player for Brazil in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In the quarter-final match against England, he made a mistake that led to a goal, but his coach defended him. In the final against Germany, Lúcio played the entire game. He was one of only four players who played every minute of the tournament for Brazil. Brazil went on to win the World Cup!

2006 and 2010 World Cups

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Lúcio set a FIFA record by playing 386 minutes in a row without committing a foul. This amazing streak ended in Brazil's quarter-final loss to France. In August 2006, Lúcio was made captain of the Brazilian team.

Lúcio playing for Brazil in 2011

Lúcio also led Brazil in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. On June 28, 2009, he scored the winning goal in the final against the United States with a header, securing the trophy for Brazil.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was Lúcio's third World Cup. He played in all of Brazil's matches. Brazil reached the quarter-finals but were eliminated by the Netherlands.

Later International Appearances

After the 2010 World Cup, Lúcio continued to be a starting defender for Brazil. On June 4, 2011, he played his 100th game for Brazil. He was also part of Brazil's squad for the 2011 Copa América. Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. Towards the end of 2011, Lúcio was no longer called up to the national team, and he made his last appearance for Brazil in September 2011.

What Was Lúcio's Playing Style?

Lúcio was considered one of the best defenders of his time. He was tall, strong, and very determined. He was excellent at heading the ball and marking opponents closely. He was also known for his tough tackles and leadership on the field. Lúcio was good at reading the game and winning the ball back in one-on-one situations.

Even though he was mainly a defender, Lúcio had good technical skills and could pass the ball well. He was sometimes used as a defensive midfielder. He was also known for his speed and stamina, which allowed him to make long, powerful runs forward with the ball. These runs earned him the nickname O Cavalo ("The Horse"). He also had a powerful shot from a distance.

Lúcio's Personal Life

Lúcio is married to Dione, and they have three children: Victoria, João Vítor, and Valentinna. He is an Evangelical Christian and often talks about how his faith helps him in his football career and life.

Honours and Awards

Lúcio won many trophies and awards throughout his career:

• Bayer Leverkusen
  • UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2001–02

• Bayern Munich
  • Bundesliga (German League): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08
  • DFB-Pokal (German Cup): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08
  • DFB-Ligapokal (German League Cup): 2004, 2007

• Inter Milan
  • Serie A (Italian League): 2009–10
  • Coppa Italia (Italian Cup): 2009–10, 2010–11
  • UEFA Champions League: 2009–10
  • Supercoppa Italiana (Italian Super Cup): 2010
  • FIFA Club World Cup: 2010

• Juventus
  • Supercoppa Italiana (Italian Super Cup): 2012

• Brazil
  • FIFA World Cup: 2002
  • FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005, 2009

• Individual Awards
  • Brazilian Bola de Prata: 2000
  • kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
  • ESM Team of the Year: 2001–02, 2005–06, 2009–10
  • 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup: Fair Play Award
  • 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup: FIFA.com Users' Top 11
  • FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2010
  • Pirata d'Oro (Internazionale Player of the Year): 2012

Images for kids

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  Lúcio in 2019

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  Lúcio playing for Inter in 2009

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  Lúcio and Brazilian President Lula in 2009

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  Lúcio playing for Brazil in 2011

See also

In Spanish: Lúcio para niños